Q&A with Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint

Allen Toussaint is one of those guys whose genius means everything to the relative few who recognize it. Name a hit to come out of New Orleans since the '50s and he's had his hands in it, from "Working in the Coal Mine" to "Lady Marmalade." His songs have been covered all over the place, most infernally by Herb Alpert, whose version of "Whipped Cream" lives forever as a Dating Game theme. His new collaboration with Elvis Costello, The River in Reverse, hits record stores this month.

EC: Allen and I worked together twice in the '80s, but I hadn't, to my shame, kept in touch. And then after Katrina, we were all in New York, and Allen and I had both been invited to play in a couple of benefit shows. We ended up on the same bill that week, and I think the idea of making a record together certainly occurred to me. And so Allen and I started discussing it.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

ESQ: Allen, you're in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but in the nonperformer category.

AT: Yes, I think that's pretty accurate. My life hasn't been performing; it's been in the studio.

EC: Well, I'd argue with that definition. If you listen to the records that Allen's produced, I mean, he's all over them. His piano is really, really dominant on most of those records. And as an arranger and songwriter, he's someone who knocks me out every time.

More From Esquire

ESQ: How much of the record was inspired by New Orleans and Katrina?

EC: We want to hit people's hearts where that's appropriate. I think that there are things The River in Reverse says that can stand to be said. Yet some of the songs that have the most impact are songs of Allen's from a while ago that have come into their moment. Songs like "Freedom for the Stallion" and "Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?" -- suddenly they have a resonance now.

AT: This recording will far outlast any effects of Katrina. This is a whole lot of love, heart, and soul. It just so happened to be done in the season in which Katrina had a part. No, this music will be around forever, but not Katrina.